Combination desk and couch



1957 D. H. HUMPHREY 3,33.7,879

COMBINATION DESK AND COUCH Filed Nov. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 17 Y/n 2071' (B Daz/id 2?, 1 24772 (JU/72746 y g- 29, 1967 D. H. HUMPHREYCOMBINATION DESK AND COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nqv. 30, 1964 0%&

fn/norr I %az z 1772 r y United States Patent O 3,337,879 COMBINATIONDESK AND COUCH David H. Humphrey, P.O. Box 1742, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico00919 Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,641 6 Claims. (CI. -3)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A U-shaped, open-front, box-like frame haspivoted therein a converson unit serving as a desk in one position andas a couch in an inverted position. Parts of the converson unit engageparts of the frame to serve as stop means in both positions.

This invention relates to a combination desk and couch which is quicklyconvertible from one to the other in a comparatively simple manner.

One object of the invention is to provide a convertible desk and couchWherein a stationary frame is provided and a converson unit is pivotedthereto for rotation through substantially 180 from one position with apanel of the converson unit serving as a desk top to a second positionwherein the panel serves as a support for a mattress, the pivot axisbeing so located as to produce a relatively high desk top and arelatively low mattress support in the two respective positions of theconverson unit.

Another object is to provide a frame comprising end members and a backmember, and a converson unit comprsing a panel and end members, the endmembers of the panel being pivoted to the end members of the stationaryframe and the pivot being vertically spaced from the panel so that inone position the panel is above the pivot and in another position thepanel is below the pivot, the first position being substantiallytable-high and the second position being considerably lower forsupporting a mattress thereon at the usual lower-than-table-highelevation with respect to the floor surface.

Still another object is to provide the combination desktop mattresssupport panel with an upstanding back member and a depending frontmember to conceal the front edge of the mattress when the panel is indesk-top position. When the converson unit is rotated to couch-formingposition the back member serves as a drop member below the front edge ofthe mattress and the front member serves as a back stop for themattress.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theConstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mycombination desk and couch, whereby the objects above contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set foth, pointed out in my claimsand illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View thereof showing it adjusted to desk-formingposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my combination desk and couch showing itadjusted to couch-forming position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing theconverson unit in desk-forming position;

FIG. 5 is a similar sectional View showing the conversion unit incouch-forming position, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 showing a pivotdetail;

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate end members of a stationary frame which has a back member 12connecting the end members together and a brace member 14 serving tokeep the end members square to the back member. Each end member has apair of supporting legs 16 secured thereto. From the description of theparts 10, 12 and 14, it will be obvious that the stationary frame issubstantially U-shaped in plan view, thereby having an open front.

I provide a converson unit in the form of a horizontal panel 18 servingboth as a desk top and as a mattress support as will hereinafter appear,a desk back member 20 and a desk front member 22. When the conversonunit is in desk-forming position as shown in FIG. 1, the back member 20is upstandng and the front member 22 is depending relative to the panel18 as will be obvious.

The three members 18, 20 and 22 are provided with a pair of end members24 of rectangular Outline and these are pivoted as by means of pivotpins 26 such as shown in FIG. 6 to the end members 10 of the stationaryframe. The pivot connections include rub washers 28 of metal, plastic orthe like to space the end members 24 from the end members 10 and therebyprevent undesirable rubbing of their surfaces together during operationof the device for converting it from desk to couch or from couch todesk.

Conversion is accomplished by rotating the converson unit clockwise fromthe position shown in FIG. 4 so that it then assumes the position shownin FIG. 5. This is the couch-forming position, a mattress 30 beingsupported on the then upper surface of the panel 18. Conversely toConvert from couch to desk, the converson unit in FIG. 5 is rotatedcounterclockwise 180. A suitable latching arrangement may be providedfor holding the converson unit in either of the positions illustratedbut since latches are more or less conventional they have not beenillustrated on the drawings.

In the desk-forming position of FIG. 4, it will be noted the mattress 30depends from the panel 18 and is concealed by the desk front member 22.The end members 24 and the back member 20 serve as guards against papersor the like on the desk being pushed off onto the floor.

In the couch-forming position of FIG. 5 the mattress 30 is supported ontop of the panel 18 and the upstanding back member 20 of FIG. 4 nowbecomes a depending front member for the couch to give a finishedappearance below the front edge of the mattress. The depending frontmember 22 of the desk in FIG. 4 becomes an upstanding wall in FIG. 5 tosupport the mattress 30 against undesirable dsplacement when occupied.Both members 20 and 22 at this time reinforce opposite edges of thepanel 18 against sagging under the weight of a person on the couch.

In FIG. 4 it will be noted the panel 18 is of such elevation that it issuitable as a desk or table top. In FIG. 5, it Will be noted, the panel18 is considerably lower than in FIG. 4 and thus supports the mattress30 at a suitable bed-high position. This particular change in theelevation of the panel 18 is accomplished by locating the pivot pins 26as illustrated (below the mattress 30 in FIG. 4 and above it in FIG. 5)or vertically spaced from the panel in the proper direction so that alow couch and a table-high desk are provided by the mere pivoting of theconverson unit 18, 20, 22, 24 and 30 through 180 of rotation. Therelative heights are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in respect to the roomappointments illustrated.

In addition to locating the pivot axis with reference to the higher andlower requirements between the desk and couch usage, I have also foundit of value to locate the pivot slightly in front of the dimensionalcenter of the surface 18 (when this surface is in desk position) therebyachieving the following results:

A. When the top 18 is in the desk position, the lower rear corners ofthe end members 24 rest on cross member 12 as shown at 32 in FIG. 4,thereby providing a definite stopping point and actually serving as asupport which is helped by the fact that more of the weight of the con-I its off-center location).

B. When the conversion unit is in the conch position it rests firmlyagainst the cross member 12 as at 34 in FIG. 5-'-thereby preventing itfrom rotating 'further than the horizontal conch position-and since thegreater portion of weight is now in front of the pivot point the conchtends to remain in this position. People sitting on the conch generallyadd the majority of their weight in front of the pivot position andthereby tend even more to hold the conch in this position.

It will be ,noted both the stationary frame and the conversion unit aresimple in Construction and have but few parts, yet due to the peculiarpivotng arrangement disclosed the device is readily convertible toeither a desk or a conch in a few seconds time. I thns provide adoublepurpose articleof furniture that can be used for either purposewithout having to provide space for two separate articles of furniture.In addition to the brace member 14, the pivot connections 26 permit theconversion unit to brace the stationary frame against undesirabledistortion.

While I have made reference to desk and couch, these terms are merelyillustrative as the device disclosed may be used as a table-conch,"table-bed, desk-bed" or the like, possibly with minor design changes.

Some changes may be made in the Construction and arrangement of theparts of my combination desk and conch without departing from the realspirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover bymy claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanicalequivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention: t

1. In a combined desk and conch, an open-front stationary snbstantiallyrectangnlar box-like frame having end members and a back memberconnecting said end members together, a conversion unit comprising ahon'- zontal panel and end members, said end members of said conversionunit being pivoted to said end members of said stationary frame on anaxis therethrongh vertically spaced from said horizontal panel wherebysaid conversion unit may be rotated substantially 180 to a first posi:tion with said panel above said axis and at a height suitable for saidpanel to serve as a desktop, and to a second position With said panelbelow said axis at a suitable height for said panel to serve as amattress support, and a mattress supported on one face of said panel.

2. A combination desk and conch according to claim 1 wherein said panel,in said first position, has an upstanding back member and a dependingfront member protecting the front edge of said mattress when saidconversion unit is in said first position.

3. A combination desk and conch according to claim 1 wherein said endmembers of said conversion unit, in said first position, extend abovesaid panel and below said mattress, and the lower edges thereof engagethe top edge of said back member to serve as stop means for saidconversion unit in said first position.

4. A combination desk and `conch according to claim 2 wherein saiddepending front member engages flatwise against the front surface ofsaid back member in said second position of said conversion unit toserve as stop means therefor when it is in said second position.

5; In a combined desk and conch, a stationary box-like rectangnlar frameof U-shape in plan view and thereby having an open front, a conversionunit within said U- shaped frame, said conversion unit comprising ahorizontal panel and end members, said end members of said conversionunit being pivoted to said stationary frame on au axis therethroughvertically spaced from said horizontal panel Whereby said conversionunit may be rotated snbstantially to a first position with said panelabove said axis and at a height suitable for said panel to serve as adesk top, and to a second position with said panel below said axis at asuitable height for said panel to serve as a mattress support, and amattress supported on one face of said panel.

6. An article of furniture according to claim 5 wherein said conversionunit in said first position rests on the top of the rear portion of saidU-shaped frame and in its second position has its rear surface restingagainst the front surface of the rear portion of said U-shaped frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS i NUNBERG, Pr'mary Exam'ner.

1. IN A COMBINED DESK AND COUCH, AN OPEN-FRONT STATIONARY SUBSTANTIALLYRECTANGULAR BOX-LIKE FRAME HAVING END MEMBERS AND A BACK MEMBERCONNECTING SAID END MEMBERS TOGETHER, A CONVERSION UNIT COMPRISING AHORIZONTAL PANEL AND END MEMBERS, SAID END MEMBERS OF SAID CONVERSIONUNIT BEING PIVOTED TO SAID END MEMBERS OF SAID STATIONARY FRAME ON ANAXIS THERETHROUGH VERTICALLY SPACED FROM SAID HORIZONTAL PANEL WHEREBYSAID CONVERSION UNIT MAY BE ROTATED SUBSTANTIALLY 180* TO A FIRSTPOSITION WITH SAID PANEL ABOVE SAID AXIS AND AT A HEIGHT SUIT-